Conservative Groups Decry Calls for Compromise

Conservative groups warned today against compromise with Democrats in Congress and the White House following this week’s elections, saying they would withhold campaign funding from GOP candidates who bend on their opposition to raising taxes on the wealthy or cutting defense spending.

“It is time for conservatives to withhold any further support, financial or otherwise, to the Republican Party unless and until the GOP re-earns our trust,” said Brent Bozell, president of the Media Research Center.

But Bozell said Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is a “moderate,” and he said Republicans failed to distinguish themselves enough from Democrats.

Bozell said there is “no such thing” as middle-of-the-road compromises. “When you compromise in their direction, you lose,” Bozell said. “When you compromise in our direction, you win.”

The comments were a stark contrast to the many calls for compromise across the political world today after Democrats gained a handful of seats in the House and Senate elections, and President Obama won re-election with at least 303 electoral votes. Congress will return next week for the start of a lame-duck session that will include critical issues on taxes and spending, and several Democrats have said they believe the vote Tuesday amounted to a mandate for Obama’s stated goal of raising tax rates for the wealthiest Americans.

Alfred Regenery, president of the Paul Revere Project, said his group and others are developing a list of policy demands for lawmakers to endorse to “hold leaderships’ feet to the fire.” Called “No Excuses,” it would include ultimatums to ban earmarks and deny funding to the 2010 health care overhaul, in addition to holding the line on taxes and defense spending, Regenery said.

Richard Viguerie, chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, said conservatives and tea party followers are “sick and tired” of seeing Republican leaders compromise with Democrats and expand federal government spending.